Headlight



March 13, 1928.

N. D. LEVIN HEADLIGHT Z w k? Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 3. 1924 Inf 4 March 13, 1928.

1,662,118 N. D. LEVIN HEADLIGHT Filed Jan. 5. 1924 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 llllllllllllH gwwm ioz Lev/) alikozwew til Patented Mar. 13, 192 8.

UNITED STATES 1,662,118 PATENT OFFICE.

N ILS D. LEVIN, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE JEFFREY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

HEADLIGHT.

Applicatiorfiled January 3, 1924. Serial No. 684,190.

The present invention relates to improve, ments in headlights, and particularly electric headlights adapted for use with mine locomotives.

The object of the invention is to provide a headlight which, when assembled, will be completely sealed as to its interior, so as to prevent theentrance of gases or dust which, in mine operations, are frequently the cause of disastrous explosions when ignited. The construction contemplates, provision of a plurality of lamp sockets interiorly of the headlight, and so disposed as that but one lamp may be used at a time, and that lamp, whichever one it may be, will be in the'focal center of the reflecting surface. I contemplate, also, a disposition of the wiring for the lamp sockets which will permit either a high power lamp for brilliant lighting, or a low power lamp for faint lighting, to be used, provision being made for operating lamps of different voltages from the same current source. The wiring, furthermore, is such as to give a minimum number of connections to the lamps, and the lamp connections and associated parts are so simplified as to give a compact and easily installed lay-out.

The mechanical construction of the lamp casing and its supporting base is such as to give ready access to the interior parts, while, at the same time, ensuring complete sealing of the lamp; and provision is made for mounting the lamp casing and its contained parts in such manner as to reduce to a minimum the shocks sustained by the lamp while in use. 1

These several objects are accomplished in a manner hereinafter described, and as illustrated in the drawings, which illustrate one physical embodiment of my invention, but it will be understood that the disclosure is illustrative, and in no sense restrictive of the invention, as such variations from the disclosure herein made as are within the skill of the mechanic, or ar'e obvious equivalent expedients, may be made, and still be within the range of my invention.

In the drawings herewith Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a lamp made in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the lamp shown in Fig. 1, a portion of the lamp bed or support being broken away,

furthermore,

Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation of the lamp, a part of an outer wall being broken away to show interior constructions.

Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicating like parts in the several views, the casing of the headlight, designated by the numeral 10, is, in general, of hell shape at its front, to provide an outwardly flaring reflector chamber 11. At its rear the casing has a second chamber 12, formed by a vertically disposed, substantially barrelshaped casing member 13, these casing parts, as shown, being preferably formed integral. The casing 10 is countersunk at its front to provide an annular shoulder 14 which receives the outwardly turned flange 15 of the reflector 16, here shown as a arabolic reflector. The flange 15 seats against said annular shoulder, and rests upon lugs 17 disposed at proper intervals circumferentially of the chamber, screws 18 being provided by which the reflector 16 is held re- 'movably in place. Thechamber 10 is exteriorly' threaded at 19 to receive the threaded flange 20 of a lens supporting ring, as clear- 1y shown in Fig. 1. The flange 20 of the lens supporting ring is relatively deep, and is threaded over a sufficient area to provide for threaded engagement therewith of a lens clamping ring or annulus 21, between which, and a depending annular shoulder 22 on the lens holding ring, the lens 23 is clamped. The edge of the lens will be protected by shock absorbing material 24 lying between it and the flange 22 on one side, and between the lens and the ring or annulus 21 on the other side; and preferably this material 24 will cover the circumferential edge of the lens so as to cushion it at all points of contact The material 24 is of such character as to seal completely the joint between the lens and its seat, so as to guard against the entrance of gas or dust.

It will be seen that the flanged lens carrying cap, when seated on the casing 10, has the relatively long threaded connection which will effectually prevent gas or air passing to the interior; that the ring or annulus 21 has a thread of the same pitch as the threaded flange 20, so that it may be turned into lens holding position and clamp the lens in firm sealed position in the front casing 10, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This gives an absolutely gas and dust proof lens cap of few parts and simple construction, and one which may be readily placed upon or removed from the lamp when the necessity for this arises without, in any way, disturbing the lens in its seat, or affecting the other lamp parts.

In the chamber 12 is a lamp holding device which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, comprises a vertically disposed lug 25, preferably formed integral with the casing 10 and forming the lower seat for a socket carrying ring 26, this ring being preferably split, as shown in big. 3, and having a. convexouter surface resting in a concave seat in the lug 25. Projecting from the outer circumference of ring 26 is a radially disposed lug 26, by means of which the ring may be swiveled or rocked in its seat. The ring is held in place by a yoke 27, secured to the lug 25 by means of screws 28, this yoke conforming, on its under side, to the contour of the ring 26, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Within the split spring ring 26 is clamped a lamp socket 29 of any suitable or desired construction. The socket 29, as will be apparent from a consideration of Fig. l, is capable of longitudinal adjustment in the spring ring 26, and by reason of the swiveling or rocking mounting for the ring 26, it and the said socket may be angularly adjusted. With this arrangement, the lamp 30, mounted in the socket 29, may be very accurately and easily adjusted relative to the focal center of the reflector, it being necessary only to loosen the clamping oke 27 sufficiently to permit swing of the rmg 26 and adjustment lengthwise of the socket 29. and then, when the proper adjustment has been secured. the yoke 27 may be set up and the parts fixedly secured.

The lamp 30, it is contemplated, will be a high powered lamp designed to give brilliant lighting, and the ground connections for this lamp, as well as the low power lamp, the mounting of which will now be described, will be hereinafter set forth.

Under certain conditions, particularly in mine work, it is desirable to use a low powered lamp for faint lighting. Furthermore,

in event of breakage of a high powered lamp, fed from a high voltage line, it is desirable that provision be made whereby a low power lamp, such as is always accessible, plalyt be installed temporarily in the head- In order that this may be done, I have provided a second socket holder 31. which. as here shown. is an angularly disposed bracket secured to the too of the casing 10 by suitable screw bolts 32, and being in the form of a spring yoke with a clamping screw bolt 33 for its split end. In said yoke is mounted a lamp socket 34, designed to receive a low power lamp 35, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The socket 34, it will be seen, is longitudinally adjustable in the yoke 31, so that the low power lamp 35 may be adjusted on a right line relative to the focal center of the reflector, the bracket 31 being so positioned that angular adjustment of the low power lamp 35 will not be necessary, and the single longitudinal adjustment will be sufficient to permit positioning the light source of the low power lamp at the focal center of the reflector.

The upper wall of the socket chamber 12 will be provided, preferably, and as here shown, at its top, with a hand hole of such dimensions as to permit ready access to the interior, and such hand hole will be closed by a suitable closure. as, for example, the cap plate 36, threaded into the hand hole, as shown in Fig. 1. and effectually sealing the chamber from the entrance of air or gas.

The reflector 16, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, will have an aperture in its wall, the central part of which receives the high power lamp, while the lateral branch receives the low power lamp.

It will be observed that the sockets 29 and 34, for the high and low power lamps. respectively, are so disposed relative to the reflector and to each other that, it is impossible to place in service. at the same time, both light bulbs, as the presence of one will preclude the insertion of the other in its socket, and, furthermore. their relation to each other and to the reflector is such. that under conditions of proper adjustment, either one of the lamps will lie in the focal center of that reflector.

At a suitable point in the casing 10, and preferably at the bottom and at one side of the barrel-like casing member 13, is provided the lead-in connection for the lights. Preferably this is in the form of a stufiing box, and comprises a counterbored and threaded opening 37. through which the cable 38. containing the lamp circuit wires is led, a fastening and clamping sleeve nut 39 being provided to hold the cable in place in the stuffing box and seal the same against the entrance of gas or' dust. From this cable the circuit wires are led to the sockets.

The lamp casing, thus constructed and fitted. permits the ready installation and renewal of lights. By removing the lens carrying cap at the front of the lamp the bulbs may be inserted. removed. or interchanged, as the conditions may require. The cap plate may be readily taken off the socket chamber. so that the interior sockets and connections may beadjusted, repaired. or renewed, and all of this may be done without the necessity of removing the lamp from its mounting.

The lamp thus constructed and wired is preferably mounted upon a base 40 in such manner as to permit leveling of the lamp relative to its base, and also to ensure absorbing of shocks which would ordinarily be transmitted to the lamp, either by side sway, or by vertical movement due to obstructions and inequalities occurring in the track. The lamp is connected to the base '40 at the three points, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and the connection is by a spring suspension device, conveniently made, as herein shown, by the screw bolts 41 passing through suitable apertures in the-base 40 and in lugs formed on the bottom of the lamp casing, the screw bolts 42 being adjustable by means of the nuts 43, to permit for leveling adjustments if necessary. Between the heads of the screw bolts and the underside of the base 40 are the suspension orbuffer springs 44, and between the bolt lugs on the lamp and the to of' the base are the suspension or bu er springs 45. By adjusting the screws 43, the springs may be more or less compressed, and the lamp may be leveled with respect to the base 40. The springs 44 and 45, disposed as shown and described, and providing a. three-point suspension of the lamp casing, give a construction in which shocks are quickly and completely absorbed, and derangement of the lamp is less likely to occur.

In order that a compact construction may be provided, I preferably arrange the base 40, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, within a cutaway portion or recess at the rear of the lamp. This gives a very close arrange ment, as the base 40 is substantially housed within this recess, with the forwardly extending arms or lugs 46 of the base 40 disposed symmetrically at each side of the lamp. Each lug 46 supports a spring susmetrically disposed with respect to the other suspension points. This arrangement pf the spring suspension devices, namely, with twoof them arranged at the front and on either side of the lamp, and the third suspension device in the rear and centrally disposed gives a well balanced mounting, one which will maintain the lamp normally in proper position, and yet respond quickly toand absorb any jars or shocks which would tend to injure the lamp parts.

As stated, the disclosure here is illustrative, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to the details of construction herein shown, except in so far as I am limited by the terms of the appended claim.

I claim:

In a lamp, the combination of a casing having a reflector chamber at its front and a socket chamber in its rear, a socket support in the lower part of said socket chambar, a swivelling socket mounting therein, a removable clamping yoke co-operating with said support for securing said mounting in adjusted position, a socket carried by said mounting, and a removably mounted socket support in the upper part of said chamber angularly disposed relative to said first named support and having means permitting longitudinal socket adjustment, a socket carried by said removably mounted support, said sockets being alternatively adapted to support abulb to projectinto said reflector chamber.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

NILS D. LEVIN. 

